Saturday, July 25, 2009

Computer problems!

Hello dear friends. Just wanted to let you know I am still following all my favourite blogs, have just had some problems with my computer..they are not sorted yet but I am trying. Have had some health issues and am sorting those out too. But the good news is, I have had my family all home. All problems went out the door for those two weeks. Had my daughter and her husband fly in from the US, my daughter, her partner and my granddaughter up from Newcastle and my other daughter, husband and grandson visit from Tamworth. As well as that had heaps of friends staying. My house has been a hive of activity but now its all stopped. Have to get used to my quiet house again.
I will be back to post as soon as I can.
Marilyn

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Yikes! Its flooding again.

Our town is in flood, for the second time this year.
I took a heap of pics to show you but on the wrong setting :( however, my friend Anne gave me these first few pics to use, then my friend Suzy the last few. Thanks girls!
This river in flood time is the second fastest flowing river in the world. The first is the Mississippi.
A field opposite my Goddaughters house, this is photographed from her front door.
Coles car park.
The gardens outside the RSL club.
Under the bridge from a different angle


This gorgeous old factory has been turned into a furniture store. My friend Suzy Baines gave me these pics below to show the water going inside the shop. They worked for hours to raise all their goods out of flood reach and they were succesful..they didn't lose any of their stock.

Can you imagine the cleaning up that will have to happen?

This picture Suzy took just up the road from the factory.

The Kempsey Show

First of all let me tell you that I am sorry I have not blogged for a while. I have been too sick, but looking at your blogs has been a great comfort for me and I have tried to keep up with my comments. If I have missed you I am sorry, but I have a date for my operation now, which is June 4 and so then I will be back as soon as I can and back into blogging, which I love to do.

The Kempsey Show was a great event and though I was sick I took my grandchildren and was able to get some pics. Enjoy!

Savannah won first place for her arrangement, by the time I took the pics it had wilted a little. This is her work, and she was so proud.



See Liams little potato animal taking a peep around!



They both just loved the baby animals







Sunday, April 19, 2009

Gift

What a delightfull treat. I went to my postbox and found a lovely parcel from Pip at Rest Is Not Idleness Pip had made some lovely Quince Paste (which she gives the recipe for on her blog) and wanted to share some with me when I said that I loved it too. The paste arrived all sealed up and in a lovely little box

as well as that Pip included a little red organza bag that held a grogeous red beaded rose pin that she had made, and the cutest little bounding bunny (check these out on her blog also).





My lovely cheese and fruit plate I made last night that featured that yummy Quince Paste.

Thank you so much Pip, the real treasure in that box is friendship.. how wonderful to think that technology enables two people that might not have met under ordinary circumstances to 'meet' and share bounty. Do look at Pips blog, its so nice to see people living a sustainable life in these times when our economy is battling. I think most of us will benefit from becoming more selfsufficient and thats not an imposition.. its rather nice to produce homemade/grown goodies for our families.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Memories

I was just reading a blog by Lyn at MyPinkandCreamCottage. She well describes and shows pics of the recent floods in her area. How devastating for the people of Coffs Harbour (a one hour drive from me). Victoria had their bushfires while other areas were in flood. Reading her article was like a trip down memory lane for me. I live in an area that has massive flooding and I could tell lots of stories, but, the most recent fright for my family was a couple of years ago when Newcastle was in flood and my two youngest daughters and my little granddaughter were stuck in it. They didnt realise that the water was rising outside... here is a newspaper clip.....

Sisters caught in floods
ANGUS GREEN
12/06/2007 3:06:51 PM
THE floodwaters that have indunated Newcastle and the Hunter Valley in recent days forced Kempsey sisters Lauren and Candice Figgett from their home and out into the torrents on Saturday night in a terrifying ordeal.
The Macleay Argus managed to get hold of Lauren yesterday as she sat in a cafe near her home, reflecting on the weekend's events.

Lauren, her sister Candice and seven-year-old daughter Savannah, were with two friends and their four-year-old son.

"We obviously knew it was raining, but it wasn't until I told my sister I was going to call for a pizza for the two kids that I looked outside and saw a river running past the front of our house," Lauren, 24, said.

"My friend said it was too wet for the pizza guys to get here ... man that was an understatement.

"We rushed outside in our undies to see how the shed was faring, but the house was surrounded by water.

"There was literally a river running past our house!

"At first it was quite funny, we were laughing at the novelty of the whole situation, and my friend even went outside to tie a ribbon on a signpost so we could see how fast the water was rising."

Lauren, a well-known singer around Newcastle, said everyone started putting items of value up high within the house, and laughed at her contribution to the possible rescue effort.

"I wrote our names and ages on the back of a Centrelink form so rescuers would know how many of us were up on the roof if it came to that," she giggled.

"After we got that all sorted we just sat at the window and watched these cars float past – lucky for us our house is up on stilts.

"We had been texting and trying to ring friends with trucks or utes to come and get us, and eventually a mate pulled up out the front, and we got the kids ready to move.

"The water kept rising and rising, and the rain was so heavy, so my sister put Savannah on her shoulders and ventured out into the current to get to the ute at the front gate.

"The water was moving so fast, Candice nearly fell a couple of times, and it was at that point the seriousness of our situation dawned on me and I got really scared.

"Savannah was screaming and we were trying to calm the kids down by telling them it was fun and an adventure, but I bet they could see the fear in our eyes.

"We literally swam out the front once we got the kids into the ute and went to a safer house, and every time the wind picked up or a car floated past we would be hit by a wave.

"The water was really disgusting, it was full of garbage and sewage, and on our way to our friend's house we nearly ran out of petrol, the roads were blocked and we had to navigate through deep water not knowing what was below."

Lauren's way of thinking continued to save her future grief, as she always keeps a "fire bag" with her passport and essential documents in it.

"I managed to grab that, but it turns out there was not much need because our house was relatively safe, and I don't have a car so that wasn't a drama.

"One of my friends lost her car and the water went right through her house.

"When we got back to our house on Sunday we found we had lost our fridge and my room was the only room to really get damaged.

"Everyone who I have spoken to since has a story, either they were really lucky, or unlucky as the case was most of the time.

"Looking back, it was really terrifying to think of how things could have gone, and just how lucky we were compared to so many others.

"I work in a cafe in Newcastle, and yesterday (Sunday) we were so busy because there were something like 200,000 homes with no power," she said.

"Not surprisingly the general topic of conversation was the storm and the flooding, and some of the horror stories were really frightening.

"A woman who lives just up the road from us was home alone with her two babies, and she was stranded until the firefighters and rescue crews helped her get out.

"The firies drove past us and yelled out, asking us if we were all right, and when we gave them the thumbs up they sped off.

"They must have had a hell of a night.

"The damage in my room was pretty bad, but I will go home today and try and sort it out to see if anything, I really should be thanking my stars that the flood waters didn't actually reach the house.

"The water damage in my room was from the rain coming through the roof, not the flood waters.

"Walking around Newcastle, the waters have receded a bit, but there are still car parks full of cars that floated in and smashed against each other.

"I reckon Newcastle will be mopping up for a long time before they are back to normal, and that's if the rain holds off."


What wasn't told was that there was a blackout and it was late at night... when they tried to leave the house... my granddaughter was on her mums head and in the dark..they could not follow a path and didn't know it they were on even ground or about to sink. How frightening would that have been....?

We have had minor flooding in my town twice in the last 2 months... and the rain is still hanging around.. but the sun is out too and our Autumn is looking really good... While our US friends are looking to their beautiful Spring weather.. I am watching our leaves turn to gold. Autumn is such a beautiful season!

Monday, April 13, 2009

Go Aussie Go!


This award I got from my lovely friend Monica over at Monicas English Version (see my side bar).

And this one comes with a little job!

I’ll have to list 10 honest things about ME…

We know the usual...so I will try to think of some unusual things that are true for me.

1. I always had an ambition to finish school...so at 44 I went back to education! I finished school then went on to graduate from University just weeks after my 50th birthday.

2. I have a daughter who is a singer. She trained at the Conservatorium here in Australia, she trained classically but sings any genre. She is billed in the USA as an international performer.

3. I work in a hospital. I am a Social Scientist. I work in an Opioid Dependency Unit. I also do general counselling or psychology work privately.

4. I am interested in brain function, phobias and addictions. (weird huh?) I love to study people and how and why they function as they do.

5. I collect cook books. The ones from churches or schools etc. I especially love the ones that have contrubutors names or anything personal from some other cook.

6. I don't like to travel (its an agoraphobic thing-not the type that I cant leave the house... just don't travel too far from home).

7. I live very simply. A lot of the work I do is for the love of it. The people that I want to reach can't afford me or the services that I represent... so.... a lot of my work is free.. which means I live frugally.

8. I get excited about the small things. Often when I look back..they were the BIG things.

9. I love children.

10. I am motherly, and I like what that creates. I 'mother' most people that I meet and that is like a trademark with me. I dont want any of my wrinkles removed.. I dye my hair but leave some gray showing... I like being a Nanna to my grandkids..and any other kids that need a Nanna, and one of the nicest things ever said to me was from my youngest daughter... "You have one of those faces that if you were lost in a big city you would go up to you for help because that would feel safe"..lol.

That’s it..

Now I am passing this on to 6 friends

Pip at Rest Is Not Idleness

Julie at Whimsical Notions

Tania at Out Back

Lucinda at Hume Cottage

Jen from Jens Chronicles

Anne at Annies Cottage

These are all Australian girls and I chose them to give some of our international friends a chance to look up some Australian blogs that they just might not stumble across so easily. They can all be found on my sidebar.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Lavender

My wonderful friend Robyn called round with a beautiful gift to pack in my hospital bag. I just love Lavender (would you have guessed?).


My Tree

When I look out my back door..this is what I see...isn't it beautiful!

Today is Good Friday, in Australia that means we are celbrating it ahead of our friends in the US. For me it means that I will spend the day simply, with family. We will enjoy a lunch of seafood and salad, then off to an afternoon Mass. Home for a hot cross bun, but basically a quiet day of reflection.
My beautiful tree that I see from my back door as I sit here at the computer shows a stillness and peace that reflects the promise of this day.

Happy Easter

I want to wish you all a happy and Holy Easter! I am waiting for my family to arrive home and the anticipation is wonderful.

I had a lovely surprise a few days ago when a blogger asked for my address to send me a card for Easter that she had made, well it arrived yesterday and I was just so blown away by the kindness and the friendliness shown to me. What an absolutely beautiful card.

It arrived with little butterflies on the envelope and boy, was I excited.

Inside, a lovely little tissue wrapped parcel with an easter egg sticker.

As I opened it lots of little cutouts fell out, they were so cute.. all sorts of easter cutouts.. fish, bunnies, eggs etc.


A beautiful standup card that had a very meaningfull message inside, (bought a tear to my eye) and another little card lovingly made that I can hang. Thank you so much Jules, from Whimsical Notions. You certainly bought great joy by that kind act.

Friday, April 3, 2009


I recieved this lovely award from my friend Sandi at http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/. Sandi is a lovely lady and has a great blog. It is called the Uber Blog Award.

HISTORY OF THE UBER AWARD

Uber {synonym of super} Amazing Blog Award is a blog award given to sites that inspire you, make you smile and laugh, gives amazing information, a great read, have an amazing design, and any other reasons you can think of that makes them Uber amazing!

Like Sandi, I am flattered to think that anyone would want to pass me this particular award because I still consider myself fairly new to blogging and I really didn't think my blog was anything special!

I used to look at all the lovely blogs on here and want to be part of the blogging community, but was not sure that I would have enough to contribute. I often struggle to think of things to blog about that would be of interest to anyone but me..lol. But I'm so glad I took the plunge! I have made so many wonderful blogging friends. So thank you Sandi for this award!

There are rules to go along with receiving this award.

1. Copy the badge and put the logo on your blog sidebar or post.

2. Nominate at least 5 blogs {or more} that for you are amazing.

3. Share the love and link to this post and to the person you received your award from.

4. Come back here and comment so that your link could be added to the master list of awardees.

The Uber Blog Award goes to: All my good friends on here! Too hard to narrow it down, so I would like to offer this to anyone that would like it.

Marilyn

Sunday, March 29, 2009

I have not posted for a while, but I wanted you all to know that I have put my home invasion behind me and have moved on from it. I have been able to resurect my car though it was damaged, and its driving well.

My daughter that lives on the other side of town, Heidi (kookaburracottage) is moving. Its been so nice having her and Matt and my grandson Liam living close by, but, with the recession, Matt has lost his job and they are forced to move so that Matt can take up a new position in a town around 4 hours (each way) drive from me. While I will miss them dreadfully, I feel that the move will be good for them. They will get to see more of the world then just our country town, and Matt will get to finish his apprenticeship as an aircraft engineer. Heidi is a primary school teacher so we are hoping that she will find work in her new surroundings too. Liam will begin school there next term and he will be challenged with the move, plus he has never been this far away from his Nanna before :).


My other news is that my daughter Lauren and her husband Brendan will be visiting us from there home in Pensylvania. They will arrive here on July 1st and stay for 6 weeks.... its been over a year since I have seen my daughter and I am really looking forward to this. They were married in June last year and are not supposed to leave the country (conditions for bringing in a spouse from another country) for 3 years but she requested they be allowed as I will be having an operation before that and have been unwell, so they have been granted approval for the visit. I have been having problems with kidney stones and all that will be sorted with the op :) )


I am looking forward to having my granddaughter come stay with me for the school holidays and during that time we will have our local show (or fair, for my US friends). The children love to exhibit flower arrangements and produce for this and they have already started to plan their harvest :) . Last year they did well with some first and second places. One year Liam got grandchampion for a pumpkin that he and I grew together. He was so proud.

Well thats my news for the moment...sorry its so long between posts but for the moment thats how it has to be. Thank you all so much for the well wishes that I have recieved, I can't begin to tell you all how much they have meant to me.
Marilyn

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Giveaway


Just found this supercute giveaway from Retro Cafe Art Gallery. Go there and take a peek..bye..I am off to work. Be back soon.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

I Won! I Won!


Well this super exciting blog was to be a highlight before the unfortunate turn of events that my last two posts covered. I can't tell you how excited I was to hear that I had won this beautiful collection of gifts from Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage and Inspirations. Sandi is a beautiful lady with a wonderful blog showcasing her heart and home from a Christian perspective. Do pay her a visit, if you havn't already, you will be pleasantly rewarded.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Thank You

I would like to say thank you for the comforting messages I recieved yesterday. I just love the warmth of the friends I have made on here. I cannot explain how I felt yesterday when I wrote that post, but I was shocked, disapointed, angry, sad.. a mixture of a lot of emotions. I could not ring out to ask a friend for comfort or to drop over, because all my numbers were in my mobile phone somewhere in a strangers pocket. I was able to ring my daughter and she came to my rescue by ringing the police and her dad, who came by and offered support. Its weird how vulnerable we are when we feel so exposed and its easy to 'freeze' and not be able to do small things like find the number for, and ring, the police (combining the fact that I am unwell at the moment, and that definately didn't help).

My car (I only had if for 5 days) has been located. Police tell me it will be driveable but its not 'my pretty little car' anymore. It was used to smash through a huge set of iron gates so there is extensive damage. It was not a new car when I bought it..but I chose it very carefully and picked one I loved.

My cash I will never see again. The money my children gave me to renovate my kitchen. I have money... but that particular money was a gift.. it was special.. my childrens way of 'contributing' to their mums reno's. Their input into making my home comfortable and a pretty place for me. :(

I did find a set of keys (they were from my workplace, and I work in a tight security section, keeping those keys would have meant huge consiquences for anyone stealing them and they were smart enough to foresee that and throw them down before they left). My personal keys and my huge keyboard were all taken..why the heck would they want my chalkboard???? My two handbags I found emptied and thrown up under my house.. and my purse was found on the backseat of my car... and thankfully my cards were intact so there is a huge job that I dont have to do renewing them all. My phone I will miss. It will take me ages to gather my numbers again..some of them from friends that I contact only occasionally and unless they ring me, I may not be able to get their numbers for ages. Its just all so disconcerting!

Anyway, we are having a beautiful day here today... two lovely friends took me out to a beautiful restaurant for a delicous meal last night, and one of them had a gift for me... a new mobile phone! I came home to find two beautiful bunches of flowers waiting for me... sent by some great friends. Talk about feeling loved and cared about. I have tears in my eyes just writing this.

Have a beautiful day all! Hugs to you all from me. Marilyn xoxo

Friday, March 13, 2009

Home Invasion

Well, I just woke up..got dressed for work..looked for my bag and keys.. gone! Then I realised..I had been burgled...so much stuff gone... plus my car... ! This is devastating... my purse..my phone.. no numbers to ring and tell anyone. I cant describe what I am feeling. I am waiting for the police... Marilyn

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Another Award


This award was given to me by Monica over at Monicas English Version (see my sidebar). Such a beautiful lady that I have made friends with on here.

Here are the rules for this award:

These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.” Also put a link to their blogs and then let them know they have been selected!

Well… piece of cake.. isn’t it??

Here are my eight:

Heidi at http://kookaburracottage.blogspot.com/

Sarah at http://shabbyrosesandprettythings.blogspot.com/

Kim at http://kimscottage.blogspot.com/

Shannon at Paint Mine Pink http://shannonthompson.blogspot.com/

Jen at http://jenschronicles.blogspot.com/

Lucinda at http://humecottage.blogspot.com/

Kelly at http://rosevinecottagetwo.blogspot.com/

Mashelly at http://joyfulhomemaker.blogspot.com/


Those were my eight :-) Love you all!

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Award


My Dear Friend (and namesake) over at Victorian Cottage victoriancottage.blogspot.com/ has given me this Fabulous Award!! What a great way to brighten the day!!


*Here are the award rules:
List 7 things that you love and then pass the award on to 7 bloggers you love!
Be sure to tag them and let them know they have won!
You can copy the picture of the award and put it on your sideboard letting the whole world know.....you are KREATIV!


I Love:

1. Blogging, blogging, blogging and did I mention blogging!
2. Shopping with my daughter Heidi
3. Sour Green Apple Straps
4. High tea
5. Rainy weather and being snug just a few feet from where it is falling
6. Everything Pink
7. Lavender


http://kookaburracottage.blogspot.com/
http://sweet.as.a.candy.blogspot.com/
http://mylittlecottageinthemaking.blogspot.com/
http://monicasenglishversion.blogspot.com/
http://outbacktania.blogspot.com/
http://shabbydreaming.blogspot.com/
http://sorcha-sidhe.blogspot.com

Until Later!
Marilyn

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

...More on family and another giveaway

Pop on over and see Sandi for yet another giveaway! She is a wonderful lady and you will enjoy her blog.

Well, we are to start having more of the flooding rain that has been here for so long now. Apparently it will rain for a month here..yikes... we only had mild flooding in our area the last time..but a month...whew.. we might be in trouble.

I love reading that my American friends are so looking forward to Spring. We are just starting into Autumn, but very little sign of it yet. One of the things I have never mentioned too much about on here is that I have a third daughter. I respect her wishes for privacy, but without overstepping the mark, I will just mention that she lives with her new husband not far from Philadephia in the USA. She was married over there last June, and is making her home in a very beautiful setting in Pensylvania. The winters are very unusual for her, and included her first sightings of snow. A lot of Australians have never actually seen snow. She missess our beaches and hot weather, she is such a little beach girl. But I know she is enjoying her stay in her lovely little cottage that she takes great care in decorating. She has her mothers love for decorating as so have all my daughters, although, they all have very different styles.


This is my daughters first home. Just gorgeous! They love this dear little house.

This is in their yard! How lucky are they



My daughter just loves mismatched chairs.. aren't they just the cutest?







I just love this. Her own private little corner.


A little decorative bedside table. How cute.

And of course her house would not be complete without............


her touch of home.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Another Giveaway


Cynthia from Cynthia's Cottage is having a giveaway. Go there to look at the beautiful signs she is giving away. Plus, you get to choose which one you want. She has a wonderful selection. You can go to her logo on my sidebar to go straight there.

I went to a card making craft day today. The second one in the series. I have a new respect for people that make cards..lol.. its not that easy but oh such fun. I would not dare show off my new card but I will keep practising and have some to show on here soon I am sure. If you find a group, go along.. I can't begin to tell you how much fun it is, and such a great use of the creative juices. The different styles and tastes of other people are amazing too. I hope I can expand and use colours and styles that are new for me. So far its all pink!

Has anyone got any nice ideas on decorating for St Patricks Day? I would love to see them. Some of the Easter ideas are looking good. I love the banners that I have seen on some blogs. I bought the cutest little coloured eggs yesterday (no photo sorry) to hang on a little potted tree. I think they are foam..and coloured in the brightest colours then covered in sparkles...so cute! When I do my tree I will post a pic. Have a great day everyone.. Marilyn

Sunday, March 1, 2009


The Farm Chicks are having a giveaway. Pop over and see their blog.
http://thefarmchicks.typepad.com/farmchicks/